April 2013 INK. Aftermarket. for Roland. B2 Sign Site visit. Nicholas Hellmuth

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1 April 2013 Aftermarket INK for Roland B2 Sign Site visit Nicholas Hellmuth

2 II Contents Introduction: After-Market Ink Evaluation 3 Two kinds of inks are used in Roland, Mimaki, Mutoh 4 eco-solvent and mild-solvent 4 You need to select which ink to choose 11 How does FLAAR accomplish an evaluation? 12 This report has not been licensed to any printer manufacturer, distributor, dealer, sales rep, RIP company, media or ink company to distribute. So if you obtained this from any company, other than FLAAR itself, you have a pirated copy. Also, since some reports are occasionally updated, if you got your version from somewhere else, it may be an obsolete edition. FLAAR reports are being updated all year long, and our comment on that product may have been revised positively or negatively as we learned more about the product form end users. PLEASE NOTE To obtain a legitimate copy, which you know is the complete report with nothing erased or changed, and hence a report with all the original description of pros and cons, please obtain your original and full report straight from other web sites in our network such as Your only assurance that you have a complete and authentic evaluation which describes all aspects of the product under consideration, benefits as well as deficiencies, is to obtain these reports directly from FLAAR, via the various sites in our network. Copyright 2013

3 3 Paul Liu, Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth and Chuck Wong at B2 Sign, INC. Introduction: After-Market Ink Evaluation It all started four years ago, we, at FLAAR Reports, began a long-range project that aims to evaluate after-market third-party ink alternatives for all the major normal brands of printers such as: HP DesignJet Canon ipf Epson Mimaki Mutoh Roland Understandably, the same ink which works in an Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh, and Roland can be usable in the scores of models of Chinese-made printers with the same DX4 DX5, DX6, and DX7 printheads. As of the moment, we have several more years of research ahead of us, but for 2013, we decided to issue our findings based on the studies made last year (2012). The first of these is all about the after-market ink for Roland printers with DX heads. This is an ink that is developed and made in the high-tech area of Singapore, by SAM*INK. This study conducted also included two visits to the ink labs and factory, as well as visits to two end-users (in Singapore and USA). We will be issuing reports on after-market inks for HP latex printers shortly.

4 4 Two kinds of inks are used in Roland, Mimaki, Mutoh: eco-solvent and mild-solvent Mild-solvent is also called low-solvent or lite-solvent. There are no industry-wide definitions to-date, but I consider mild-solvent, low-solvent, and lite-solvent all similar with each other. These three solvent names are all different from the eco-solvent. Eco-solvent requires more coated media, which if I might add is more expensive. On the otherhand, the Mild-solvent requires less coated material. This makes its cost of use cheaper. Today, the best known examples of mild-solvent inks are the current Seiko ColorPainter printers and their earlier versions (rebranded as the HP Designjet 8000s, 9000s, and 10000s). Since SAM*INK is already turning out and making mild-solvent for the HP Designjet 8000s, 9000s, and 10000s, the company found it relatively easy to make a similar ink for Roland, Mimaki, and Mutoh. This mild-solvent ink also works in most other printers that use DX 5 printheads from Epson. Just be sure to check what DX printheads your printer has. With this knowledge, you can now purchase and use the best ink for it. (Realize that Epson itself tries to hide what model of printheads their printers use. Epson does not want anyone to use an after-market ink because obviously Epson wants the profit). Remember that every printhead model prefers an ink made to work well with that printhead. From that we can surmise that an ink made for a Roland printer using an Epson DX4 head may not be the ink to consider for a Konica Minolta head. Staff of B2 Sign INC. with Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth.

5 5 SAM*INK ECO-SAM is stated by them as matched to the colors of Roland s OEM ink. This is standard policy: to have the after-market ink be the same color gamut.

6 6 To assist you to understand which Roland printers to consider using the SAM*INK, we offer the following tabulation. You must remember that water-based ink is very different than lite-solvent ink. The SAM*INK is eco-solvent. The list below includes all printheads which Roland uses, and all ink types (eco-solvent, mildsolvent, and UV-cured). Today, there are many companies that modify Roland water-based printers to use with textile inks. There are a few companies in Europe and China that modify Roland printers to use UV or other inks. In the list below, we have included only the official printers of Roland DGA. SAM*INK ECO-SAM is rated by them as compatible to Roland s OEM media.

7 7 We are not aware and furnished with any complete tabulated list of Roland printers, but most RIP software companies have fairly good lists. This is our first edition dated Feb and as such we still need to get a lot more information to be sure that we have all the models and that our specs for each model are correct. If you are in need of specific information, it is best for you to use Roland DGA as a source (though obviously they will not want you to utilize any after-market ink!); we have no connection or affiliation with Roland DGA. But as a professor-type of person, I do like to make tabulated comparative lists, and I will keep at this list over time until I can improve it. But, it may take some time as we are also making comparable lists of Mutoh, Mimaki, Canon, Epson, and HP printers). Model Ink(s) kind How many Comments, such DX which, or Pico Ink channel as, should you dare other brand, liter(s) COLORS consider this used? AdvancedJet AJ-740 Mild Solvent 6 Konica Minolta 14 pl AdvancedJet AJ-740I Mild Solvent 6 Konica Minolta 14 pl AdvancedJet AJ-1000 Mild Solvent 6 Konica Minolta 14 pl CAMM JET Pro II CJ-540 Pigmented/ Dye based 8 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl HI-FI JET Pro II FJ-540 Dye based/ sublimation 6 HI-FI JET Pro II FJ-740 Heatwave Sublimation 6 HiFi Express FP-740 Eco-Sol 4 DX4-water Piezo Inkjet DX4-water Piezo Inkjet DX5 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl 6-10 pl 1.5pL SOLJET Pro II SC-500 is a model in the list by DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK SOLJET Pro II SC-540 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SC-540 EX Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SC-545 EX Eco-Sol 5 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SC-545 EXW Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SJ-500 I first saw this in the list of Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK (not in RIP lists). SOLJET Pro II SJ-540 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SJ-540 EX Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 1.5pL SOLJET Pro II SJ-545 EX Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SJ-600 I first saw this in the list of Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK (not in RIP lists). SOLJET Pro II SJ-640 EX Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SJ-645 EX Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II SJ-740 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl

8 8 Model Ink(s) kind How many DX which, or Pico Ink channel other brand, liter(s) COLORS SOLJET Pro II SJ-740EX Eco-Sol 6 Epson Piezo 1.5pL SOLJET Pro II SJ-745EX Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro II V SJ-1000EX is a model in the list by Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK SOLJET Pro II V SJ-1045EX is the model in the list by Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK Comments, such as, should you dare consider this used? SOLJET Pro III XC-540 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl Comments: As you can see, my notes did not have the W or MT versions; the SAM*INK list includes the W and MT versions, so these are the ones we listed for SAM*INK. For a more accurate list, it is best if you check with your local SAM*INK franchisee; the list below is only a general tabulation list. Model Ink(s) kind How many DX which, or Pico Ink channel other brand, liter(s) COLORS SOLJET Pro III XC-540MT Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro III XC-540W Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro III XJ-540 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro III XJ-640 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET Pro III XJ-740 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET SJ-1045 Eco-Sol pl Comments, such as, should you dare consider this used? VersaCAMM SP-300 I first saw this in the list of Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SAM*INK (not in RIP lists). VersaCAMM SP-300V Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM SP-300VI Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM SP-540V Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VP-300 Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VP-300I Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VS-420 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VP-540I I first saw this in the list of SAM*INK (not in RIP lists). Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl AdvancedJET AJ-1000i Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl Hi-Fi Express FP-740 Heat Sublimation 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl

9 9 Model Ink(s) kind How many Ink channel COLORS DX which, or other brand, Pico liter(s) Comments, such as, should you dare consider this used? VersaArt RA-640 Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaArt RE-640 Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaArt RS-540 In list of SAM*INK VersaArt RS-640 In list of SAM*INK Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl Eco-Sol DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM SP-300i Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM SP-540i Eco-Sol 4 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VS-300 Eco-Sol 4,6,8 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VS-420, I first saw this in the list of SAM*INK (not in RIP lists). Eco-Sol 4,6,8 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VS-540 Eco-Sol 4,6,8 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaCAMM VS-640 Eco-Sol 4,6,8 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl VersaStudio BN-20 Eco-Sol / FPG Aqueous 4 or 5 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XC-540 Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT Eco-Sol 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XJ-540 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XJ-540 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XJ-640 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET PRO III XJ-740 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET SJ-1045 Eco-Sol 4 or 6 DX4 Piezo Inkjet 6-10 pl SOLJET SJ-1045EX is the model listed by SAM*INK SOLJET Pro 4 XR-640 Eco-Sol 9 Dual Head Piezo 6-10 pl VersaUV LEC-330 Eco-UV 5 Dual Head Piezo 6-10 pl VersaUV LEC-540 Eco-UV 5 Dual Head Piezo 6-10 pl VersaUV LEJ-640 Eco-UV 6 Dual Head Piezo 6-10 pl VersaUV LEF-12 Eco-UV 6 Dual Head Piezo 6-10 pl

10 10 Below is the list from SAM*INK itself. Please bear in mind that they indicate their ink works in Roland printers with DX4 DX5, and DX7printheads. Most Rolands use DX4 printheads. SJ-500 SJ-540 SJ-540EX SJ-600 SJ-640EX SJ-645EX SJ-740 (VersaCAMM) SP-300V (VersaCAMM) SP-540V SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT SOLJET PRO III XC-540W SOLJET PRO III XC-540 SOLJET PRO III XJ-640 SOLJET PRO III XJ-740 SJ-740EX VersaArt RS SJ-745EX VersaArt RS SJ-1000EX VersaCAMM SP-300i SJ-1045EX VersaCAMM SP-540i SC-500 VersaCAMM VP-300i SC-540 VersaCAMM VP-540i SC-540EX VersaCAMM VS-300 SC-545EX VersaCAMM VS-420 SC-545EXW VersaCAMM VS-540 (VersaCAMM) SP-300 VersaCAMM VS-640 An after-market ink company puts a lot of effort into making sure their cartridges are easy to use on the designated printers. Here are the Plug-N-Print cartridges used by SAM*INK for Roland Versa Art and other Roland ECO Sol Max printers. Some printer manufacturers rebrand media and substrates. The printer manufacturers then offer their own canned ICC profiles. This makes it easier to do color management. ECO-SAM ink is dedicated by SAM*INK to be compatible to the ECO-Sol Max media. To further save money, if you have your own RIP software (Wasatch, ErgoSoft, Caldera, etc) and your own color management system, then you can buy lower priced media.

11 11 You need to select which ink to choose I made a rough count of all the brands of inks that offer a comparable ink for Roland, Mimaki, and Mutoh. All you have to do is visit any sign printing expo, anywhere in the world, and you will see several of these companies. If you go to the larger international expos you will see about 75% of these at a single trade show. The after-market ink companies I know that are the best in the business include SAM*INK, for several reasons. First, I have already visited their headquarters, ink factory, R&D facilities twice. Plus, I have visited and interviewed about four or five end-users who utilize their inks. In all cases, they prefer SAM*INK to the original inks. The inks with DX printheads was still new when I first visited the R&D labs of SAM*INK in Singapore in This ink was being used in a Chinese printer from AStarjet. These are essentially the same Epson printheads as used in a Roland, Mimaki, or Mutoh printer, as well as, in several other Chinese printers. Subsequently, I also visited a company outside Los Angeles which was happy with SAM*INK for their HP latex printers and was initiating the use of SAM*INK for their Roland Printers. Roland VersaCAMM VP-54

12 12 How does FLAAR accomplish an evaluation? For an evaluation of inks, we need to know more about the company and its inks. Apart from these two, we also visit the end-users. Several ink companies have already offered to pay us in exchange for them being allowed to advertise on the FLAAR site. We appreciate their recognition of the clout we have with our huge international readership, but we do not advertise an ink which we are not fully familiar with. As such, before we evaluate we first fly to the ink company and inspect the ink in their demo room, and then visit end-users. Lab analysis of ink chemistry is not included in the evaluation as this would be too expensive. Formerly, I was a Research Professor at two universities and even with university backing it was not realistic to have funding to actually analyze each ink in a company. Plus, every ink batch is a bit different from the rest. Instead, I have found that it is more realistic to inspect the ink company policy and standards. What I can t help but notice is how many ink companies are owned and operated by individuals who really understand and love to work with ink. Of course, obviously there are a few owners who are understandably in the business just for the profit. But, we prefer to evaluate the ink from family-run businesses, from companies where we know the owners, where we can see the sales representatives at most major expos. With such business, communication in both directions is easier and possible. One difference among some bulk ink companies, when you switch to an after-market ink, the ink company hopes you will just keep buying their ink even if they are not actually providing tech support.. Here is where SAM*INK is different from the rest. The franchisee staffs in each country are all trained in the ink factory. On how to handle each ink and each major printer. The result is that you are not just buying an ink, but are also, in the sense, acquiring an ink partner that will assist your company. Sample print with SAM*INK for Roland VersaArt RS-640

13 13 We heard about an ink company in China that offered solvent ink for $8 a liter. An unfortunate distributor who tried and tested it, said: it lasted only a few weeks outside before the colors faded. In other words, for every dollar you got is roughly equivalent to just about one week of outdoor longevity. You get what you pay for. As a side comment, however, there are one or two goodink companies in China. FLAAR hopes to visit more of them during But, in the meantime, we have already found two good quality ink companies: SAM*INK and AT Inks. SAM*INK is made in Singapore, a high-tech area of the world. SAM*INK ECO-SAM is stated by them as matched to the colors of Roland s OEM ink. This is standard policy: to have the after-market ink be the same color gamut. February 2013, during Graphics of the Americas expo, in Orlando. Most recently updated, April 2013